,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #baff ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ah1 #bjai ,mr4 ,wicker 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mr4 ,cassidy1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,ms4 ,cantwell7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to designate ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,regional ,ocean ,partnership ,act4 #b4 ,findings2 sense of ,congress2 purposes 7a7 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,the ocean and coastal waters of the ,united ,states are foundational to the economy1 security1 global competitiveness1 and well-being of the ,united ,states and continuously serve the people of the ,united ,states and other countries as an important source of food1 energy1 economic productivity1 recreation1 beauty1 and enjoyment4 7#b7 ,over many years1 the resource productivity and water quality of the ocean and coastal areas of the ,united ,states have been diminished by pollution1 increasing population demands1 economic development1 and natural and man-made hazard events1 both acute and chronic4 7#c7 ,ocean and coastal areas of the ,united ,states are managed by ,state and ,federal resource agencies and regulated by various overlapping authorities1 thereby creating a significant need for coordination to enhance the ecological and economic health of those areas4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that the ,united ,states should seek to attain coordination of the efforts relating to the management1 conservation1 resilience1 and restoration of ocean and coastal areas to reduce duplication of efforts and maximize efficiencies through collaborative regional efforts by ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships1 in consultation with ,federal agencies and ,state and local authorities4 7c7 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are as follows3 7#a7 ,to expand and strengthen cooperative voluntary efforts intended to manage and restore ocean and coastal areas spanning across multiple ,state boundaries4 7#b7 ,to expand ,federal support for monitoring1 data management1 and restoration activities in ocean and coastal areas4 7#c7 ,to commit the ,united ,states to a comprehensive cooperative program to achieve improved water quality in1 and improvements in the productivity of living resources of1 all coastal ecosystems4 7#d7 ,to authorize ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships as coordinators of ,federal and ,state authorities relating to voluntary efforts for the collaborative management of the large marine ecosystems1 thereby reducing duplication of efforts and maximizing opportunities to leverage support in the ocean and coastal regions4 7#e7 ,to enable ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships to receive ,federal funding to conduct the scientific research1 conservation and restoration management1 and priority coordination necessary to achieve the purposes described in paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d74 #c4 ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,administrator ,the term ,administrator means the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration4 7#b7 ,coastal state ,the term coastal state has the meaning given that term in section #cjd of the ,coastal ,zone ,management ,act of #aigb 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #adec74 7#c7 ,indian ,tribe ,the term ,indian ,tribe means an ,indian tribe1 as defined in section #d of the ,indian ,self-,determination and ,education ,assistance ,act 7#be ,u4,s4,c4 #ecjd74 7b7 ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships 7#a7 ,in general ,a coastal state may participate in a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership with one or more other coastal states that share a common ocean or coastal area with the coastal state4 7#b7 ,application ,the ,governor of a coastal state or the ,governors of a group of coastal states may apply to the ,secretary of ,commerce1 on behalf of a partnership1 for the partnership to receive designation as a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership if the partnership-- 7,a7 meets the requirements under paragraph 7#c72 and 7,b7 submits an application for such designation in such manner1 in such form1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#c7 ,requirements ,a partnership is eligible for designation as a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership by the ,secretary under paragraph 7#b7 if the partnership-- 7,a7 is established to coordinate the management of coastal resources2 7,b7 focuses on the environmental issues affecting the ocean and coastal areas of the coastal states participating in the partnership2 7,c7 does not have a regulatory function2 and 7,d7 is not duplicative of an existing ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under paragraph 7#d71 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#d7 ,designation of certain entities as ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships ,notwithstanding paragraph 7#b7 or 7#c71 the following entities are designated as ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships3 7,a7 ,the ,gulf of ,mexico ,alliance1 representing the ocean and coastal area shared by the ,states of ,alabama1 ,florida1 ,louisiana1 ,mississippi1 and ,texas4 7,b7 ,the ,northeast ,regional ,ocean ,council1 representing the ocean and coastal area shared by the ,states of ,maine1 ,vermont1 ,new ,hampshire1 ,massachusetts1 ,connecticut1 and ,rhode ,island4 7,c7 ,the ,mid-,atlantic ,regional ,council on the ,ocean1 representing the ocean and coastal area shared by the ,states of ,new ,york1 ,new ,jersey1 ,delaware1 ,maryland1 and ,virginia4 7,d7 ,the ,west ,coast ,ocean ,alliance1 including the ,states of ,california1 ,oregon1 and ,washington and the ,indian ,tribes in those ,states4 7c7 ,governing bodies of ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 shall be governed by a governing body4 7#b7 ,membership ,a governing body described in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 shall be comprised1 at a minimum1 of voting members from each coastal state participating in the ,regional ,ocean ,partnership1 designated by the ,governor of the coastal state2 and 7,b7 may include such other members as the partnership considers appropriate4 7d7 ,functions ,a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 may perform the following functions3 7#a7 ,promote coordination of the actions of the agencies of coastal states participating in the partnership with the actions of the appropriate officials of ,federal agencies and other authorities in developing strategies-- 7,a7 to conserve living resources1 increase valuable habitats1 enhance coastal resilience1 and address such other issues related to the shared ocean or coastal area as are determined to be a priority by those states2 7,b7 to manage regional data portals and develop associated data products for purposes that support the priorities of those states2 and 7,c7 to obtain the support of appropriate officials for such strategies4 7#b7 ,in cooperation with appropriate ,federal agencies and ,state and local authorities1 develop and implement specific action plans to carry out coordination goals4 7#c7 ,coordinate and implement priority plans and projects1 and facilitate science1 research1 modeling1 monitoring1 data collection1 and other activities that support the goals of the partnership through the provision of grants and contracts under subsection 7e74 7#d7 ,engage and collaborate with stakeholders to address ocean and coastal related matters that require interagency or intergovernmental solutions4 7#e7 ,implement outreach programs for public information1 education1 and participation to foster stewardship of the resources of the ocean and coastal areas4 7#f7 ,develop and make available1 through publications1 technical assistance1 and other appropriate means1 information pertaining to cross-jurisdictional issues being addressed through the coordinated activities of the partnership4 7#g7 ,serve as the liaison with1 and provide information to1 international counterparts1 as appropriate4 7e7 ,grants and contracts 7#a7 ,in general ,a ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 may1 from amounts made available to the partnership by the ,administrator or the head of another ,federal agency-- 7,a7 provide grants to eligible persons described in paragraph 7#b7 for the purposes described in paragraph 7#c72 and 7,b7 enter into contracts with such persons for such purposes4 7#b7 ,eligible persons ,the eligible persons described in this paragraph are the following3 7,a7 ,indian ,tribes4 7,b7 ,state and local governments4 7,c7 ,nongovernmental organizations4 7,d7 ,institutions of higher education4 7,e7 ,individuals4 7,f7 ,private entities4 7#c7 ,purposes ,the purposes described in this paragraph are the following3 7,a7 ,monitoring the water quality and living resources of multi-,state ocean and coastal ecosystems4 7,b7 ,researching and addressing the effects of natural and human-induced environmental changes to ocean and coastal ecosystems4 7,c7 ,developing and executing cooperative strategies that-- 7i7 address regional data issues identified by the partnership2 and 7ii7 will result in more effective management of common ocean and coastal areas4 7f7 ,reports and assessments 7#a7 ,annual report ,not later than #a year after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 each ,regional ,ocean ,partnership designated under subsection 7b7 shall submit to the ,administrator1 and make available to the public1 a report that describes the following3 7,a7 ,each project and activity for which the partnership received funding under this section during the previous fiscal year4 7,b7 ,the goals and objectives of those projects and activities4 7,c7 ,the net benefits of the projects and activities funded under this section during previous fiscal years4 7,d7 ,the collaborative efforts of the partnership4 7#b7 ,assessments and reports 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #e years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and every #e years thereafter1 the ,administrator1 in coordination with the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b71 shall-- 7i7 assess the effectiveness of the partnerships in coordinating regional priorities relating to the management of common ocean and coastal areas2 and 7ii7 submit to ,congress a report on that assessment4 7,b7 ,report requirements ,the report required under subparagraph 7,a77ii7 shall include the following3 7i7 ,an assessment of the overall status of coordinated efforts in regional ecosystems covered by the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b74 7ii7 ,an assessment of the effectiveness of the management strategies that such partnerships are implementing and the extent to which the priority needs of the regions covered by such partnerships are being met through such strategies4 7iii7 ,such recommendations as the ,administrator may have for the improved coordination among the regulatory and nonregulatory programs operating in the regions covered by such partnerships1 including recommendations for strengthening the strategies being implemented or adopting improved strategies4 7g7 ,availability of ,federal funds ,in addition to amounts made available to ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b7 by the ,administrator under this section1 the head of any other ,federal agency may provide grants to1 enter into contracts with1 or otherwise provide funding to such partnerships4 7h7 ,authorities ,nothing in this section establishes any new legal or regulatory authority of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration or of the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b71 other than-- 7#a7 the authority of the ,administrator to provide amounts to the partnerships2 and 7#b7 the authority of the partnerships to provide grants and enter into contracts under subsection 7e74 7i7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,of amounts authorized to be appropriated to the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,administrator may make the following amounts available to ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b7 to carry out activities of the partnerships under this ,act3 7,a7 #aj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj4 7,b7 #aj1ajj1jjj for fiscal year #bjba4 7,c7 #aj1bjb1jjj for fiscal year #bjbb4 7,d7 #aj1cjf1jdj for fiscal year #bjbc4 7,e7 #aj1dab1afj for fiscal year #bjbd4 7,f7 #aj1ebj1djd for fiscal year #bjbe4 7#b7 ,distribution of amounts ,amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 shall be divided evenly among the ,regional ,ocean ,partnerships designated under subsection 7b74 7#c7 ,availability of amounts ,amounts made available under paragraph 7#a7 shall remain available until expended4